Ride of Silence participants urge motorists to be more aware of cyclists (gallery)

MOBILE, Alabama -- Their numbers weren’t what they were a year ago, but a group of local cyclists made a clear statement during an evening ride today, asking motorists to share the road.

Team Share the Road, which sponsored Mobile’s second annual Ride of Silence, led the cyclists on a leisurely paced tour of seven-plus miles through Midtown and downtown Mobile starting at 6 p.m.

A head count on South Monterey Street, near the midpoint of the ride, revealed 116 riders participating, plus a few who took in only the first mile before pulling off the course.

The cyclists were sent off by two people who couldn’t make the ride. Amy Rose, who was struck and injured by a motorist in 2011, told the cyclists she was continuing to recover and planned to take part in the 2013 ride.

Andy Primeaux, who was struck Feb. 10 on Airport Boulevard, told the riders that the helmet he wore prevented his injuries from being worse.

"The law in Mobile says that we must give three feet when passing a cyclist," Primeaux said. "I say that’s not enough. I say we ought to give them five or 10, even if this involves slowing way down or stopping."

The tour began and ended in Washington Square. Riders of all ages, mounted on all makes of cycles, took part.

Jim Turner came from Baldwin County to ride his recumbent cycle, a style of bike that allows the rider to recline and reach pedals mounted far forward.

The flat terrain of the course suited Turner well. While he said the recumbent is a relaxing bike that offers the rider relaxation and a better view, "it is difficult to go uphill, because you can’t put your weight to the pedals like a normal bike."

The ride was preceded by a brief ceremony in which the names of persons killed in auto-bicycle collisions was read, followed by a second list of names from recent years of people who had been seriously injured.

Ride of Silence is held nationally to raise awareness about sharing the road between motorists and cyclists. Last year’s inaugural Mobile event attracted 234 participants, slightly more than twice the number that rode Wednesday.